Editing Ice axe (section)

==Components==
An ice axe consists of at least five components:
*Head – usually made of steel and featuring a [[pickaxe|pick]] and [[adze]]. A hole in the center is provided for attaching a wrist leash or [[carabiner]].
*Pick — the toothed pointed end of the head, typically slightly curved (aiding both in ergonomics and [[self-arrest]]).
*Adze — the flat, wide end of the head used for chopping steps in hard snow and ice.
*Hammer — the hammer is an alternative to the adze. May be used for aiding placement of [[rock climbing|protection]].
*Shaft — straight or slightly angled, typically wider front-to-back than side-to-side, flat on the sides and smoothly rounded on the ends. Traditional shafts were made of wood, but are now almost exclusively of lightweight metals (such as [[aluminium|aluminum]], [[titanium]] and steel alloys) or composites (including [[fiberglass]], [[Kevlar]] or [[carbon]] [[Fiber|filament]]).
*Spike, or [[ferrule]] — a point at the base of the shaft used for balance and safety when the axe is held by its head in walking stick fashion. Usually made of steel.